Nothing can beat Grandma’s Turkey Noodle Soup. It’s just like love in a bowl. My grandma always has some type of soup to heat up when you visit her, and my favorite is her turkey noodle soup. I recreated my grandma’s turkey noodle soup the best I could. The flavors are spot on and the noodles are nice and tender. This recipe is great for using leftover turkey.
I made a homemade Turkey Stock for this soup since we had cooked a whole turkey earlier this week, I used the carcass, some veggies, seasonings, water, and cooked it my slow cooker. The turkey stock may seem like a lot of work, but it’s really is simple, and adds a ton of flavor to this soup. (This turkey stock needs to be made overnight, or the day before making this soup).
The next day after I made the turkey stock (or you can buy it, Trader Joe’s sells an amazing turkey stock!) I added the turkey stock, turkey, veggies, bay leaves, thyme, and black pepper to the slow cooker, I cooked all of that for 8 hours on low.
Then I cooked my noodles on the stove-top, then added them to the soup, and cooked for 1 1/2 hours more in the slow cooker, I did this so the noodles would get extra tender, just like grandma’s soup. I always cook my noodles before adding to the slow cooker, I had a bad experience with noodles that disappeared into mush in the slow cooker when I added them raw.
My family has been down with the flu this week, and this was the perfect meal to make us feel better! I also had to work late all this week too, which didn’t help at all! I hope to feel better this week, and I am happy that I will have this soup for leftovers!
Slow Cooker Grandma’s Turkey Noodle Soup
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 7 cups turkey stock or broth (chicken broth may be used)
- 3 cups turkey cooked leftovers; shredded or diced
- 1 cup carrots sliced
- 1 cup celery sliced
- 1 cup white onion diced
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ tsp. thyme
- ⅛ tsp. pepper
- 8 oz. fettuccine noodles broken up, cooked separately
- ⅛ tsp. salt to taste
Instructions:
- Add the stock or broth, turkey, carrots, celery, onion, bay leaves, thyme, and pepper to the slow cooker.
- Cover, and cook on low for 8 hours.
- After the 8 hours are up, cook the noodles for about 1-2 minutes shy of package directions in salted boiling water on the stove top.
- Once the noodles are cooked, drain.
- Add the noodles to the slow cooker with the soup, and continue to cook on HIGH for about an 1½ hours more, this will soften the noodles to perfection, and make the soup thicker.
- Serve and enjoy.
What’s the best thing to do with leftover turkey and a crockpot? This soup of course! I doubled the celery and carrots and used Vegetable stock. Delicious!:)
How long do you cook the turkey carcass in the slow cooker?
Here is the recipe for the turkey stock. I cook for 10 hours. https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-turkey-stock/
There shouldn’t be any evaporating of liquid if the lid was left on, your slow cooker may cook too fast as well.
OK, that’s probably on me. I hadn’t done slow cooker soup before and I stirred it several times during cooking. I should have left it alone, but I was home all day and bored.
No worries, I used to do the same!
Can you use egg noodles instead?
Yes! cook them according to the package directions
Thank you Ms. Sara
Excellent recipe as is. My 3 grandkids love it. They enjoy the soup more than the Thanksgiving Day meal. The grandkids asked for more veggies in the soup. So I double up on the carrots & celery. On occasions they also have asked to add green peas or green beans or some other veggie. I look at it this way. Any recipe that has young kids asking to eat veggies-add the veggies. Job well done. Happy holidays.
Can I use chicken or do I have to use Turkey?
Yes precooked chicken would be fine! I tested this recipe with raw chicken before, tasted good, but the raw chicken leaves floaties in the soup, not great for guests.
My family LOVED this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing. I’m just wondering if it is possible to freeze it?
I have not tried to freeze this one. If you do try, let me know how it reheats! 🙂
Yes, you can freeze this. I do it all the time.With all kinds of soups. I would recommend that you freeze it without the noodles. I am not saying that you can’t but I find they are mushy once defrosted. Cook them separately when you are ready to defrost, reheat and serve – if you want noodles in your soup.
Oooh. Now I’m craving for some Turkey noodle soup.
What a great pot of Turkey Noodle Soup, it is wonderful that it cooks in the Slow Cooker. Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday, it is so nice to have you with us today. Have a great weekend and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Is there anything better than chicken soup made with homemade stock? Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.
Sarah, this looks wonderful- and I know it must smell and taste incredible! Like you said, it is definitely “love in a bowl”! ♥ Thank you for bringing this to Treasure Box Tuesday- I have pinned and tweeted! 🙂
I’ll try anything Grandma makes 🙂 Thanks again for stopping by MUNCHING MONDAYS!!! Warmest, Nic